Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Said the Chicago Transit Authority collected more federal aid than it should have after inflating mileage covered by its bus routes. Ordered the agency to revise its 2011 tally of revenue-producing miles and change the way it counts mileage from now on.

Cause of Action, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group, claims the Chicago Transit Authority may have inflated by up to $150 million the federal funding it received since 1982 by "fraudulently over-reporting" the number of miles buses travel while in service.

An attempt to obtain banking information from the targeted motor carriers, they appear to be from the U.S. DOT Procurement Office. They are signed by a fictitious name — Julie Weynel, senior procurement officer — who is not an employee of U.S. DOT.

According to prosecutors, dummy barcodes were allegedly stashed in one of the MTA worker's lockers to use in order to fabricate inspections instead of being affixed to signal equipment in order to ensure that the work is done.

Letters dated March 16, 2012 attempting to obtain banking information are circulating among motor carriers. They are signed by a fictitious name of "Julie Weynel – Senior Procurement Officer.

Credit card fraud at ticket machines peaked in May of last year before installation of the new system, which requires customers to provide their zip code as part of the verification process. The rail service expects to save over $5 million.

Investigation began in March of the possible production and sale of illegal MBTA passes after Conductor John Slyman noticed that a customer's monthly pass appeared to be the wrong color.